The Young Airhawk | Wine Review

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The Young Airhawk 2011 pack shot (LR)The Young Airhawk is a very interesting wine. In fact it is different from most other wines I have tried. It is a dry wine. Very much so. It also makes you want more. It tastes expensive, fresh and crisp. It also has a running taste of oak, but not too much.

I loved how fruity it was. It has a great, notable taste of peach, some lemon tones, green fig and a unique taste of asparagus. Which I don’t think I have ever tried in a wine before. This is a great wine full of a lot of great different flavours. A unique mix that really works. Fans of dry wine will especially love it.

Although this wine is priced at £14.99 from Morrisons I do think it is worth it. It tastes much more expensive.

The Young Airhawk – This wine is made entirely from barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Bouquet: Layer of green figs, asparagus and minerality, very well integrated with wood. Fresh, crisp and zesty with creamy texture.

The Young Airhawk, a fresh, crisp and zesty wine with a creamy texture made entirely from barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, pays tribute to Nederburg founder Johann Graue’s son, Arnold. Arnold Graue loved speed, action and adventure and showed his bravery from an early age by signing on as a trainee air gunner with the South African Air Force.

Like his father, Arnold was renowned for his winemaking prowess, winning many wine prizes, but sadly after hiring a light aircraft to celebrate a perfect spring day his life was tragically cut short in a fatal collision with another aircraft. The Young Airhawk Wooded Sauvignon Blanc captures the spirit of this professionally driven young man with a huge appetite for life.

The Young Airhawk is available from Morrisons for £14.99

Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 1 | Travel

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I am fresh from a trip to Toulouse, I explored the wonderful city in the South of France, visiting hotels, restaurants, markets and tourist spots. All for my wonderful readers, It was hard, but someone had to do it. We are going to be doing a series of travel guides on the area but here is the first of Toulouse in Instagram Pictures. Our Toulouse Travel Guide is here.

Train to Birmingham Airport. Here is the shuttle to the airport.

Shuttle to Birmingham Airport.

No 1 Traveller Lounge at Birmingham Airport. A truly VIP experience.

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BMI Regional plane to Toulouse Blagnac Airport. We flew business class and were looked after by the amazing Michael Love.

BMI Regional plane

G & T time. When in the sky….

Gin and Tonic on BMI Regional flightView from the sky.

We stayed at the Citiz Hotel. A very stylish four star hotel. I loved my room.

Citiz Hotel

Dinner at J’GO Toulouse. The best pork and chips I have ever had in my life.

J'GO Toulouse

While we were having dinner a brass band started up outside and played ‘Funky Town’.

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It was Special National Music Day. The day that all of France get together and party. It was a lot of fun.

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My hotel room is top left. Needless to say there was no point in getting an early night. So we partied.

National Music Day in Toulouse

The next day we went to the Cite de l’espace. An amazing space museum and theme park. I saw rock from mars and the moon, saw astronauts suits. I also experienced walking on the moon thanks to the Moon Runner. I also spent some time in a Space Capsule and saw a great temporary Mars exhibition, With David Leach-Davies of 69 Magazine.

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Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

About No.1 Traveller – fast facts

· No.1 Traveller specialises in premium hospitality and provides a complete ‘driveway to runway’ service – smart Chauffeur-driven airport transfers, express train tickets, airport parking, airport meet-and-greet and airport lounges (No.1 Traveller’s own collection, plus associate lounges abroad)

· It works with airlines, businesses and individuals to offer a convenient and comfortable service to take the stress out of going to and through airports – the smart traveller’s choice

· No.1 Traveller can be booked by anyone at www.No1Traveller.com or passengers can make their way to the reception of the airport lounge on the day

Airport lounge: Birmingham

· Opened October 2012; the first of No.1 Traveller’s lounges outside London

· Accessible to all passengers travelling through the airport

· Open daily from 0430hrs – 2030hrs; facilities include a range of seating areas across two levels, fully-tended bar, bistro area serving complimentary hot and cold dishes, complimentary newspapers, magazines and internet access

· Entry £27.50 per adult at reception, for up to three hours access (children £17.50 each), £22.50 if booked in advance (children £15)

BMI regional operates over 450 flights a week throughout the UK and Europe with one way prices starting from £59. bmi regional flies from Aberdeen, Antwerp, Bristol, Bremen, Billund, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hannover, Hamburg, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Norwich, Manchester, Toulouse and Zurich. All flights include complimentary food & drink on-board, free 20kg hold baggage allowance and 30 minute check-in. bmi regional is the world’s most punctual airline having recently been crowned the title for the 8th consecutive year.  For more information, visit www.bmiregional.com.

Chinese Shanghai Composite index falls 5.3% on Monday

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Recent actions by the Chinese regulators to curb lending has further unnerved investors already unsettled by recent comments from Ben Bernanke. The interest rates Chinese banks charge each other surged last week to record highs before falling back.  And following a recent statement by the People’s Bank of China, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 5.3% Monday night.

 

Adrian Lowcock, Senior Investment Manager, at Hargreaves Lansdown;-  

 

“China’s new leadership is addressing some of the risks that have been building up in the banking system, inevitably this could result in some short term pain, possibly impacting on growth but it should benefit China in the longer run.  Chinese stock markets do look cheap at present,  based on 20 years of information.   In addition it is important to remember that China is a state-controlled economy and therefore it is very difficult to make a clear judgement on the accuracy of the information being provided.   There are some concerns China’s shadow banking system will spiral out of control, however it seems unlikely the People’s Bank of China will let the system fail.“

 

“In line with their 5 year plan China is undergoing a change from an export driven manufacturer to a consumer focused economy. This transition is not going to be smooth and there will be some bumps along the way.  China continues to grow, at around 6 to 7% per annum, but like all emerging markets this does not lead to a smooth rise in the equity market.

 

In 2007 investing in China was very popular and as a result valuations rose to very high levels. The market has underperformed both developed and emerging markets since. There are clearly issues in China’s financial system and authorities are now taking action to deal with these. For long term investors that want to have exposure to China this setback could be providing an opportunity to invest. Company earnings are rising and valuations are looking much more attractive. Most investors can get sufficient exposure through a well-diversified emerging markets fund such as First State Asia Pacific Leaders which has 23.9% in the region or Aberdeen Asia Pacific which has 18.47% in the area.   For investors wishing to take a more adventurous approach and are able to tolerate a higher level of risk then Jupiter China, managed by Philip Ehrmann, provides exposure.”

 

Taking the Big Fat Problem Out of Recipes

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Fresh_meatNew study prompts the Fat Information Service (FIS) to introduce 10 ‘recipe rules’ to reduce saturated fat content when following your favourite recipes.

A recent UK study[1] analysed 904 recipes developed by celebrity chefs and discovered over three quarters (87%) contained high levels of undesirable nutrients, particularly saturated fats. Eating too much of this type of fat contributes to heart disease and obesity.

Prompted by the new findings, along with evidence indicating that the UK currently consume 20% more saturated fat than is recommended, FIS experts have developed 10 easy to follow rules that can be applied to any recipe to help make it healthier by reducing the saturated fat content.

The new initiative by FIS aims to encourage the nation to get ‘recipe savvy’ by helping them recognise how to make their favourite home-cooked meals healthier without compromising on taste. For example, simply swapping butter for a vegetable oil based spread or replacing cream with low fat yogurt can significantly reduce the saturated fat content of a recipe.  In addition, FIS are also reminding people of the importance of comparing food labels and selecting products that are lower in saturated fat as another simple way to boost their heart health.

Dr Emma Derbyshire, nutritionist and independent advisor to FIS, comments, “Celebrity chefs are great for inspiring people to cook fresh meals and try different types of foods. The problem is that their recipes are generally far too high in saturated fat and calories to be eaten regularly, making them better suited for treats and special occasions.

“The ‘recipe rules’ developed by the Fat Information Service aim to address this by introducing simple changes that people can make to any type of recipe to make it healthier and allow them to include it as part of their regular diet.

“These simple steps to cut down on the amount of saturated fat, such as adapting recipes by swapping less healthy ingredients with lower sat fat ones, and using healthier cooking methods, could potentially save thousands of lives and years of living with heart disease.”

The Recipe Rules:

1.                  If the recipe includes cream, replace with lower fat fromage frais, natural yoghurt or crème fraiche

2.                  Swap whole milk for semi skimmed or skimmed milk

3.                  If you are using cheese to flavour a dish or a sauce, opt for a strong tasting cheese and use a smaller amount of it. Alternatively, try a reduced fat version

4.                  Swap butter for vegetable oil based spreads or margarine

5.                  Use unsaturated oils such as olive, sunflower or rapeseed oils instead of butter, lard or ghee

6.                  Wherever possible grill meat and poultry instead of frying it and cut off any visible fat or skin before cooking

7.                  Use a non stick pan to avoid adding extra fat when cooking

8.                  Add less meat to stews and casseroles and replace with pulses and extra vegetables instead

9.                  When making a pie opt for just one crust – either a lid or a base – as pastry is high in saturated fat  – (also try to make pastry with

Vegetable oil based spreads or margarine instead of butter)

10.              Grill, bake, poach or steam rather than frying and roasting

[1] Food and Public Health journal, April 2013.

I Am Breathing Film Review

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i-am-breathing film reviewThe thin space between life and death becomes an unlikely source of optimism and hope in the face of grueling adversity, in this powerful yet restrained documentary. It follows the last months in the life of Neil Platt, a Yorkshire based architect who contracted Motor Neurone Disease in his early thirties and was left paralysed from the neck down and dependent on breathing apparatus. Under no illusions to the outcome of his diagnosis, Neil welcomes the filmmakers (one of whom he befriended at art school in Edinburgh)  into his home and family life and communicates, via interviews and an online blog he sets up, his struggle with the disease, his reflections on his life to date and the legacy he wishes to leave behind for his infant son Oscar.

 

From its opening scenes, any sense that we the audience are in for a thoroughly maudlin and downbeat experience are quickly and quietly dispelled by Platt’s engaging and immensely likeable presence. The most courageous acts can be the most subtle and the calm and dignity that he approaches his situation with is incredibly moving. Directing duo Emma Davie and Morag McKinnon keep interviews and observations stripped down and low key, settling for tight close ups for interviews and a handheld roaming camera to follow Platt’s interaction with family and friends and his daily tasks. There’s a genuine ‘fly on the wall’ feel to the proceedings and lengthy sequences that follow the minute details and tasks that suddenly seem to require a Herculean effort. There’s a sharp juxtaposition between a recognisable suburban home setting and the cold, sterile heaps of medical equipment that clutter the family home.  However far from settling for a miserabilist tone there’s a gentle and inspiring sense of humour in Platt’s observations of this new take on home life and his struggles with faulty assistance equipment. In one great scene, he recounts how his phone company can’t quite grasp that he won’t be alive in order to renew his phone contract (‘We can offer you three months for free?’)

 

When the directors do decide to break away from the low key formalism, they thankfully do it in tasteful and reserved manner. We are treated to animated depictions of Platt’s blog posts on Plattitude (every bit as droll and upbeat as interviews), diagrams of his work in architecture  home albums and video of early life and university where he met his wife Louise, who is never far from his side and appears as  rocksteady support for her husband. Platt recounts his eventful life prior to his diagnosis, his passion for motorcycling and the close knit unit of family and friends he has met over the years. The depictions of an active and healthy lifestyle underline the tragic nature of the illness without oversentimizing the issue.  As well as creating an itemised catalogue of personal items that he plans to leave to his son for later years, Platt intends the film itself to be a testament not just to his struggle with the disease but as a human being. In this regards I Am Breathing takes on an astonishingly personal and thought-provoking edge. How do you begin to sum up your life when you when you know it is being robbed from you in such a cruel manner? What do you plan to say and leave behind for your son who will have only vague memories of you? The honesty and straightforwardness of these reflections is quietly devastating.

 

As the inevitable draws closer and Neil’s methods of communication begin to fall away, the filmmakers keep their respective distance but stay with him to record his final blog entry and goodbyes at a hospice. It’s these scenes that are the most gruelling and challenging to get through. Some may argue they toe the line of taste yet  it is utterly to the filmmakers credit that they tackle such a painful, intimate moment with such reservation. Rather than trite sentiment they end on an image of seeming mundanity yet heartbreaking pogiance. As harrowing as the themes approached in I Am Breathing can be, the tone of the direction and the inspiring nature of the man at the heart of it create a warm, rich and incredibly moving portrait of not just a fight against illness but the rhythm of life itself. Along with a premiere screen at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, I Am Breathing is set to have its wide release in the UK and international community screenings  on 21st June, Motor Neurone Global Awareness Day. The Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) and Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) are collaborating to promote screenings of the film and awareness of the disease in general. A fitting tribute to both the film and the man at its centre.

 

Entity Film Review

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entity film reviewA group of documentary filmmakers travel into the heart of rural Siberia and come across all manners of unpleasantness in this low-budget, stripped down horror thriller written and directed by Steve Stone. It utilizes a low budget (approximately £100,000) to go over what is admittedly familiar material in the horror genre, but is executed in a stark and efficient manner that grabbed it the Best Horror Film at the London Independent Film Festival earlier this year.

 

A British documentary crew led by Kate Hansen (Charlotte Riley) for ‘Darkest Secrets’  travels to a remote Siberian woodland to report on a grisly find decades earlier; dozens of unidentified bodies shot dead and buried in shallow graves. Joining the established film crew are renowned psychic Ruth Peacock (Dervla Kirwan)  and local guide Yuri (Branko Tomovic), who escorts them to the location and narrates the backstory to their cameras. Hopes are that Ruth can give a unique insight into the the identity of the victims and why they were killed.  However they soon stumble across a vast, dilapidated research facility that harbours far more sinister secrets…

 

At first glance Entity would appear to heading down the well worn path of the found footage horror film that broke through into the mainstream with The Last Broadcast and The Blair Witch Project, and has been diluted down over the years with titles such as the Paranormal Activity quartet. The opening scenes play out via skipping and distorted CCTV footage and the cameras point of view is brought up and referenced several times throughout the film. Thankfully Stone resists succumbing to a ‘flavour of the month’ approach and settles for a more traditional narrative style and supernatural feel. The tone here favours atmosphere and chills over graphic carnage and the film touches on themes of regret, loss and memory that thankfully suggest the filmmakers agenda was above just splattering claret across the walls. The abandoned military facility is a horror subplot that has been done to death with recent incarnations such as The Bunker and Outpost. It’s credit to Stone and his collaborators that they manage with limited resources to craft such omnipresent dread from such a familiar setting. A large part of that is down to the impressive location scouted for the film; an abandoned, almost monolithic industrial estate that seems to smother the  characters and the very screen with its presence. The cinematography serves well in in transforming it into an embodiment of menace and transfers from graceful tracking shots to a frantic, hand held pursuit in night vision as the narrative develops. Proceedings are made more memorable by a strong cast doing good work with what do seem initially liked cliched roles. Particularly worthy of note is Kirwan who embodies her role with an ethereal calm in the face of fear, that always seems not too far from some form of breakdown as the story unfolds.  Branko Tomovic also does solid work in a role that is admittedly not very difficult to guess its trajectory but he invests it with a surprising mix of menace and care.

 

I had the fortune of seeing Entity at a director’s Q&A at the London Independent Film Festival. Just from Stone’s passion and enthusiastic response to questions it was easy to see the time and energy he had put into the project and how much it meant to him on a personal level . Entity is not without its rough edges but it gets the job done with effective determination.

 

Festival Survival Pack

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Festival survival packWaking up in a tent with a hangover means a dry mouth and bad breath. Forgotten your toothbrush? Then Oraldiet is the perfect solution to keep you minty fresh all day. It’s an innovative lozenge that contains the probiotic lactobacillus reuteri, which balances out the bad bacteria in the mouth – the main cause of bad breath. It also contains aloe vera gel, which helps to keep your mouth bacteria balanced and keep you bad breath free.

I reviewed Oraldiet to see if it works. I took one everyday after brushing my teeth and it made a difference. It tastes like a strong mint. My mouth was fresher all day and I also noticed an improvement in my overall dental health. Better gums, whiter teeth and my tongue looked healthier too. Pretty cool.

Being on your feet all day at a festival can leave you feeling a little sore in the sole, but now you can add an extra weapon to your armoury against foot care woes with Carnation Footcare’s Anti Blister Stick. Long lasting, invisible and non-greasy, the innovative Anti- Blister Stick can be applied directly to the areas of your feet where shoes pinch and rub, providing instant relief, while also being easy to pop into your bag and carry around – perfect for when you are stuck in a field in the middle of nowhere. I use this almost everyday. I even took it on a recent trip to Toulouse and it helped with the hours of fun sight-seeing, which are always hard on poor feet.

Planning on dancing the night away? Look no further than the 9bar range for all of your energy needs. Available in nine tasty varieties – Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax, Organic, Peanut, Anglesey Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper and Sweet Chilli – there’s a flavour to suit every taste bud. Packed with nutritious seeds that give a slow release of energy, 9bars keep you feeling fuller for longer, allowing you to concentrate on more important things – like which stage to attend. I have tried them and they are delicious.

Don’t let hangovers get in the way of your festival fun. Start your day with a Nature’s Plus Red Lightning powder sachet and feel electric. Each sachet is packed with over thirty whole food extracts including cranberry and pomegranate, giving it an antioxidant punch, perfect for curing those sore alcohol induced heads. It’s the perfect way to start your festival day!

The lights have gone off, the field is silent and you feel the need to sleep for days. It’s safe to say that the festival is over. Make sure that you are ready to get back to the daily routine with Detox Patch-It. This simple plaster-style detox system uses reflexology to support the body’s natural detoxification process. Just apply the Detox Patch-it to the bottom of your feet and let it do all of the work. Using double distilled mandarin wood vinegar and green tea the patches deliver FAR-infrared energy to stimulate key reflexology points on the feet so you awake feeling revived and ready for your next festival!

The 9bar range is available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores nationwide. Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax, Organic and Peanut are available in 4 x 40g multi packs, RRP £1.89, and in 50g singles, RRP 70p. Anglesey Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper and Sweet Chilli are available in Waitrose stores nationwide. All varieties are available as 30g singles, RRP 65p.

Oraldiet is available from www.revital.co.uk. £6.35 for 30 lozenges.

Carnation Footcare’s Anti Blister Stick is available from £4.05.

Detox Patch-It is available from Holland & Barrett stores nationwide. £3.99 for 2 patches or £29.99 for 20 patches.

Nature’s Plus Source of Life Red Lightning powder sachets are available from www.nutricentre.com. £1.38 for 6g sachet.

Free Shipping From US When Online Shopping? Yes Please | Shopping News

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summer clothesOnline shopping is great, in fact the only bad thing about it- apart from the destruction to your bank account- is the absurd rise in postage costs. So when we came across the news that American Express are offering card holders free postage from the US we got quite excited. Sorry bank account, it is too good to resist.

Throughout June, American Express Cardmembers in the U.K. can enjoy free shipping and a hassle-free experience when shopping online at top U.S. stores and brands with a simple promotional code.

American Express has partnered with Borderfree to launch the U.S. Summer Sales campaign, which runs until 30 June, and is valid when using any American Express Card on orders of more than £70. British Cardmembers can take advantage of the offer by entering the promotional code AMEXBF when paying with their American Express Card.

The campaign includes a wide range of top U.S. brands, such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Aeropostale. A full list of merchants can be found at the campaign website www.port51.com/amex .

In addition to free shipping, Cardmembers can browse online in local currencies, and see all taxes and duties up front at checkout. Shoppers will receive their merchandise within 10 business days and incur no additional fees upon receipt.

The promotion is valid when shopping online with an American Express Card, and when shipping to international destinations outside of the U.S.